} AND NOW WE'RE HAULING ASS TO THE CITy-- S0 HOLD ON, ‘CAUSE THE CAVALRY'S COMING.

JEEZ

WE'RE ON OUR WAY, SNOW.

SCROUNGED UP EVERY PIECE OF ROLLING EQuiP- MENT WE COULD BEG, BORROW OR STEAL, AND STUFFED THEM FULL OF FARM FABLES AND GUNS--LOTS OF GUNS.

YOU'RE GOING TO GET US ALL IN TROUBLE IF SOME

MUNDY DRIVER SEES YOU, SO SIT BACK DOWN AND COVER UF, STINKY!

~

CONVERSION BY

WhoSsSToR™T

@UR RIGHT TO — a Niner Sarat ASSEMBLE | writer/creator Pea x « x ISSUE * *

STEVE DANIEL TODD LEIALOHA ¥V0ZZO0 KLEIN

a CHAPTER SIX © * inker color/seps lettering MARCH OFTHE . JAMES JEAN MARIAH HUEHNER * WOODEN SOLDIERS cover art assistant editor * * * * * SHELLY BOND KK =e he 2S NC Pr editor

I'D LIKE TO BUT THINK NOT. I WANT THE TRUTH TO HOPE ITSABIG 1S YES. I DO

MISTAKE, OR AN aed WE

ARE WE REALLY GOING TO WAR, WEYLAND2

y =|

WHY LS; Y US, WHY'D WE POPS? VOLUNTEER TO GO ALONG? PUT OUR L/VES ON THE LINE TO HELP FABLES WHO'VE GOT US PULLING PLOWS IN THE FIELDS TWELVE HOURS A DAY?

rs

WHICH WE'LL y HAVE TO CONTINUE % DOING FOR ANOTHER 98 YEARS, BOO, UNLESS WE DEMONSTRATE OUR RE- NEWED LOYALTY TO THE POWERS THAT BE.

Na af (P75)

=a i

—

YOU DOING? YOU CAN'T JUSTDECIDE \B TO ERECT A BARRIER ACROSS A NEW YORK CITY STREET!

ua

OF COURSE WE CAN, OFFICER. WE'VE GOT OUR PERMIT RIGHT HERE, TO CLOSE OFF BULLFINCH STREET

FOR A BLOCK

BUT CEMENT BARRIERS FORAPARTY? ~\ IT LOOKS MORE LIKE YOU'RE

) PREPARING FOR AN

pe ASION. at WILL TAKE CARE OF THE

CURIOUS MUNDYS.

ad

WE JUST WANT TO INSURE PRIVACY DURING OUR CULTURAL CELEBRA- TION, IS ALL.

NOTHING SO DRAMATIC. WE'RE AN INSULAR COMMUNITY, STILL HOLDING ONTO OUR QUAINT TRADITIONS FROM THE OLD COUNTRY.

JUST MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ALL THIS CLEARED AWAY AGAIN, BEFORE THE

DAY AFTER UW ma

ABSOLUTELY, OFFICERS. AND YOU TWO TAKE CARE OUT THERE. WE'RE AVID BOOSTERS OF NEW YORK'S FINEST.

PROBLEM

Sine OW GO! PART OF THE ne Se

MISTER PRINCE, SIR.

IT'S ABIT MESSY ROLLING THE BARRELS INTO 4 POSITION BEFORE THE 4 CEMENT'S FULLY

n SET, BUT...

(‘ It ) Wy

MARVELOUS. YOU'RE DOING FINE. WALK BY NOON WE'LL HAVE WALLS ° WITH ME, CLOSING OFF EACH END OF FLY. BULLFINCH STREET, TWO BARRELS HIGH AND AT LEAST TWO BARRELS

~ WHO OWNS THESE CARS? ARE THEY OURS?

GOOD. WE'LL MOVE THEM INTO A TIGHT SEMICIRCLE HERE, TO FORM AN

INNER BARRIER, DEFENDING THE WOODLAND ENTRANCE.

WE'LL USE THE WALLED COURT- YARD FRONTING THE WOODLAND BUILDING AS OUR FINAL REDOUBT.

THEY BELONG “SS TO FABLETOWN \ THIS TYPE RESIDENTS. WE OF WARFARE'S ALL ABOUT THIS IS

PREPARING A SERIES OF DEFENS- IBLE FALL-BACK POSITIONS NESTED

| WITHIN EACH OTHER.

A LOT OF WORK TO DEFEND OUR- TN | SELVES AGAINST THREE WOODEN ‘ei ae T?

BUT WHO KNOWS HOW MANY THERE TRULY ARE?

7 Pay \ { careruL \ ATTENTION, BROTHERS.

THEN EXAMINE EACH PIECE, AS YOU UNPACK IT, TO MAKE SURE IT'S PROPERLY INTACT AND FUNCTIONAL.

EXTRA CARE ON OPENING EACH CRATE,

FIRST, TAKE Pc ; po

THE PRECIOUS CON- TENTS WITHIN.

I CAUTION YOU TO BE MOST CAREFUL WITH THE HEAD AND HANDS--

--THE THREE PARTS CARVED BY THE CREATOR HIMSELF AND ENCHANTED TO PASS AS LIVING FLESH AMONG THE MEATHEADS.

GREETINGS, BROTHER RANDOLPH. I TRUST YOU FARED WELL DURING THESE LONG DAYS OF TRANSIT AND STORAGE?

EXTREMELY WELL, BROTHER. IN FACT I'M ALMOST LOATH TO LEAVE THE WARM AND WOMBY COMFORT OF MY COZY PACKING CRATE.

Wy ie 2 et 00) @eaee WELL, IT'S TIME < tit = se = !

y DRESSED, PROCEED T > ee 5 i a | R , PROCEED TO 70 ces ne HE tee N se ks a | — | STATION FIVE FOR YOUR HAIR. RANDOLPH. LET'S GET YOU UNPACKED BROTHERS: —— = a MAKE SURE Ney 5 THEN FOR YOUR AND OVER TO STATION TWO, EZ AS SOON AS YOU'RE x TL YOU HAVE ONE SHIRT, { P \ WEAPONS. FOR ASSEMBLY. B/ ASSEMBLED, IT'S YouR Py ONE PAIR OF PANTS, ONE DON'T ‘ ——\_ RESPONSIBILITY TO ali SUIT-JACKET, ONE TIE, ONE WORRY ABOUT y CHECK YOURSELF FOR | SS PAIR OF SOCKS, ONELEFT SIZES. THEY'RE | 3 FULL MOBILITY. | SO eee SHOE AND ONE RIGHT = i SHOE.

‘s 4 = Aj f Q \ Gm \s ; ‘¢ J = ‘ IF SOMETHING Doe $ Me iJ \ IS TOO TIGHT, OR TOO \ LOOSE, GET IT FIXED HERE AND NOW, BEFORE PROCEED- ING TO WARDROBE.

he

Nt auaies \\Z

We ae

og IF YOU HAVE j A PREFERENCE IN "/ HAIR COLOR, LET ME EH} KNOW NOW, OR YOU'LL HAVE TO FIND SOMEONE A WILLING TO TRADE A TH YOU.

i NUN ———

\ iS, .

ine \ (AN =—S

i

1

hy

HAS ONE. IF HE FALLS IN BATTLE, THEN A

\ BSF r CONGRATULATIONS--YOU GET <a a

<< SS e ASSEMBLED, DRESSED AND

H | ARMED, PROCEED DOWNSTAIRS i i TO MISSION-PLANNING AND

€ INDOCTRINATION. in IN 2 a

NONSENSE. YOU'RE IN NO SHAPE TO--

LOOK AT ME? LOOK AT WHAT SHE

DO YOU THINK I'LL EVER BE ABLE TO PLAY THE TRUMPET AGAIN WITH THESE?

I'M THE WORLD'S MOST GIF TED SURGEON. ONCE I'VE OPERATED, THERE'S A GOOP CHANCE You'LL RECOVER MOST OF

f I'DLOVE ™N

| / TO BE ABLE To \ { USE YOU IN THE } \ actual OJ | \. FIGHTING.

YOUR ONE AND ONLY JOB |S

MEMBERING, ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS HERE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF > DAYS.

YOUR CONSIDERABLE POWERS WILL BE NEEDED

EA EROS i MR Fh Ha Rt Ss WE ER a EA hh =]

PUT TOO MANY YEARS INTO BUILDING FABLE-

FROM NOTICING, OR RE-

Ni BE AWFULLY EXPENS/VE, MISS WHITE. CAN FABLETOWN AFFORD SO MANY COSTLY

UNFORTUNATELY,

IN A MORE V/TAL CAPACITY.

b> EVEN IF WE WIN THE BATTLE, WE'LL STILL

A MUNDYS DISCOVER ANY PART OF WHAT'S ABOUT TO OCCUR

Wy

|i}

hee

THAT'S GOING TO

ENCHANTMENTS? _—

LOSE EVERY THING IF THE

THIS IS AN OFFICIALLY DECLARED

BODIED FABLE, YOU'VE BEEN DRAFTED TO DO YOUR PART.

r) if Hi

rh

LLO, x you YOUR SONS AND S DAUGHTERS, BOYS! THE D eis THE FARM FABLES . i

HE 5

HAVE ARRIVED!

ME TOO, FLY. I'VE FORGOTTEN WHAT A GORGEOUS LADYKILLER YOU ARE. GOOD THING I'M SITTING, BECAUSE MY KNEES Ss HAVE SUDDENLY GONE ALL WOBBLY.

a my 37 A‘ SPEAKING a= -— T ORbABYKILLERS, — \\ A Aapeare

UNDERSTAND WE'VE ¥ YOU TO THANK FOR RIDDING IT. JUST REMEMBER US OF BLUEBEARD. ME COME ELECTION WELL DONE, PRINCE | DAY. CHARMING. f

fal Iy sowHere © DO YOU WANT US, <a OWBOY?

See A: = Y

7m

— “Z 3 = ss Ext : Y SS

Net H So” A | 9 =| VAN

nf a) mo, *% ( ws Cr ss > WwW OS ee phy &

MAKE SURE EVERYONE GETS ONE OF Db. THESE RADIOS.

TW] = aENBE A

FOS CO). © -@. 7 om. One SP S PLATOON SS NOT LEADERS? EVERYONE, BUT EVERY--WHAT DO WE

y EVERYONE? THERE'S 9

NOT ENOUGH, MISS WHITE.

THE LOCAL RADIO SHACK

ONLY HAD TWELVE IN Or

Base

SECTION LEADERS? CALL THEM? GROUP LEADERS?

«ce a.” By | KES) _A

yay xy)

U

/

OVE! = iy JUST DON'T SHOW WE ONT EVEN Have A INDECISION IN FRONT OF COMMON LANGUAGE FOR THIS THE TROOPS ANP YOU'LL BUSINESS. HOW ARE WE GOING DO FINE. TO EVEN PRETEND TO FUNCTION wus ONCE THE ACTUAL FIGHT- }

ING STARTS?

4

GOD'S NAME ARE YOU TWO DOING HERE?

DELIVERING MEDICAL SUPPLIES, AS RDERED.

PPE

BUT : ISN'T IT OBVIOUS? p I'M TAPING THIS WEAPON X eoffES NOTE anics NOT THAT. TO HIS HANDS. THEY'RE SO )" Bane 10 BED THIS ” WHAT IS BLUE DOING INJURED HE COULDN'T HOLD INSTANT OF COURSE, OUT OF THE HOSPITAL? IT OTHERWISE : REPORTING AND WHAT ARE YOU FOR DOING TO HIM2 DUTY.

SWINEHEART, YOU'RE A DOCTOR! HOW COULD you ey BECAUSE I'M BE A PARTY TO THIS NONSENSE? Li ABATTLEFIELD CE = «| SURGEON--THE BEST ~- = == _Y¥\.IN THE HISTORY OF

WARFARE.

OUR PRIORITIES DIFFER FROM THOSE IN STRICTLY CIVILIAN PRACTICE, IN THAT WE'RE OFTEN CALLED UPON TO GET SOLDIERS PATCHED UP JUST ENOUGH TO GET THEM BACK INTO THE FIGHT.

I'm WE'RE ALL HURRY ALONG Werte Twomey) (tNATICS IN a YOu CAN HEAR Me abDRESS SIT THIS OUT. : K THE TROOPS.

fe

7 Do you ABSOLUTELY. 7 REALLY THINK YOU DON'T KNOW HER i OH, THERE NS THIS WILL WORK, } LIKE I DO. I JUST HOPE YOU ARE. YOU DIDN'T ‘~=Sem OLD MAN? SHE EVENTUALLY FORGIVES | ANSWER RIGHT AWAY SO ME, AFTER THE I THOUGHT I'D JUST POP

I MUST SAY YOU'RE LOOKING

EVEN MORE LOVELY THAN YOUR

ALL-TOO-APPROPRIATE NAME BOASTS, BEAUTY.

SHALL WE T STARTED? I DON'T WANT TO MISS SNOW'S BIG SPEECH.

| IN AND SEE IF YOU WERE BATTLE. [| HOME.

PRINCE CHARMING? WHAT _ ARE YOU--?

7 SJ DIDN'T BEAST TELL YOU YET? WE REACHED A MODEST MONETARY DEAL FOR ABOUT FIFTEEN MINUTES OF YOUR CONSIDERABLE CHARMS.

YOU TWO EED THE EXTRA INCOME...

Z 7 - ALWAYS LIKE A : f ILL GOOD, LUSTY ~\ — > \ KILLHIM/ TUMBLE JUST : y IM GOING BER A FIGHT, é TO--/ O-- ; f

OH YES. YM READY zi X FORK WAK euess WY? Ss NOW. THAT DID THE TRICK, | 4 EH? Ae

I'M NO MILITARY

SN) DGD: WV

y WE DON'T HAVE ANY y OURS WERE COMMANDER. I'VE NO SPECIAL

WISDOM TO |MPART, EXCEPT THAT

PARTICULAR COUNTRY LOST TO US LONG AGO. WHICH OTHERS HAVE SAID SO

MANY TIMES BEFORE.

FABLETOWN HAS NO FORMAL STATUS, EXCEPT AS IT EXISTS IN OUR MINDS AND HEARTS.

NO, WHEN WE FIGHT TONIGHT, IF WE DO, IT WILL ONLY BE FOR EACH OTHER--FOR THOSE STANDING HERE BES/DE US.

LIKE EVERY SOLDIER IN EVERY BATTLE IN HISTORY.

CHEER UP, THOUGH.

AND WE'VE NO FLAG TO FIGHT FOR.

ONCE THE BAD GUYS SEE THE STRENGTH OF OUR FORTIFICATIONS, DEFENSES AND, MOST IMPORTANT, OUR RESOLVE, THEY'LL PROBABLY JUST TURN TAIL AND RUN.

es ‘ CHANCES ARE,

AS SOON AS THEY SEE OUR NUMBERS, THE MEATHEADS WILL SIMPLY ROLL OVER AND SHOW THROAT.

ONCE THEY ~ SURRENDER, WE MUST SHOW PROPER RESTRAINT AND NOT KILL TOO MANY

OF THEM.

i

PERHAPS ONLY THOSE WHO HESITATE TO OBEY.

TO SHOW TOTAL DEFERENCE,

MY DEAR BROTHERS OF THE OR COWER

AND CRINGE f eau ts camaee oN JUsT A B/T TOO Y A GLORIOUS ADVEN- RELUCTANTLY. TURE, IN SERVICE TO

hb. THE EMPEROR.

Ci |

ow CW Cada i &

> > -— > 2 «re

RANKS AND PREPARE TO

ath i Cy (eo © @ >=

Co Cw CH Co CH CE

Ce Cw

YOU MIND TELLING EXACTLY

WHAT SNOW ME WHAT YOURE ! ORDERED

ME TO DO, A. PINOCCHIO.

| ff MY JOB'S AEG TO LOOK AFTER é

WA YOU, DURING THE

DIDN'T YOu HEAR WHAT THEY SAID LAST NIGHT?

<1 I'M THEIR EXTRA-SPECIAL SUPER-DELUXE B/G BROTHER.

SOMEWHERE OVER THERE, THE ADVERSARY HAS MY DAD PRISONER, TURNING =—N OUT WOODEN SOLDIERS

a

Y SO THAT'S WHAT > I'M PREPARING TO a DO.

I DON'T NEED "LOOKING AFTER,” JACK, FOR TWO VERY GOOD REASONS.

FIRST, EVEN IF THE WOODEN SOLDIERS ATTACK EVERYONE ELSE, THEY WON'T HARM ME.

OKAY, NOT SO MUCH “BIG,” BUT THEIR TREASURED ELDER BROTHER.

AND SECOND, WHEN THEY GIVE UP AND RUN AWAY, I PLAN TO VOLUNTARILY GO W/TH THEM.

—_— ALL THIS - TIME I THOUGHT

GEPETTO WAS DEAD, BUT NOW WE CAN BE REUNITEL.

DO YOU ACTUALLY

THINK YOU'LL BE ABLE WOODEN SOLDIERS, TO HARM THEM WITH , MORON--AS IN: MADE BULLETS? = OF WOOD’

(

‘

- THINK Ze)

{ YOU'VE GOT IT ALL A FIGURED OUT, —— RUNT?

g WHEN SNOW ORDERED ME TO "LOOK OUT FOR YOU,” SHE DIDN'T NECESSARILY

IN MEAN “PROTECT” YOU.

SI

MY SWORD'S _{ FOR CHOPPING UP =—\ YOUR BROTHERS IN THE KNOTHEAD

BRIGADE.

2

A 5

S 4 \

EVER SHOOT A TREE AND SEE IT FALL OVER DEAD?

AT THESE GUYS ALL DAY JACKASS, AND THEY WON'T FEEL A THING.

DO YOU HONESTLY IMAGINE THERE'S A CHANCE WE'D EVER LET YOU SKIP BACK TO THE HOMELANDS, TO SPILL YOUR GUTS TO THE ENEMY?

BUT IF IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE ABOUT TO FALL INTO THEIR

HANDS, AND THERE'S NO OTHER CHOICE, T HAVE THE GUN TO--

—| L U ll GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. GRIMBLE.

FORWARD TO

h THIS EVENING'S FESTIVITIES? —a

A BIT, MR. HOBBES. A BIT. CARE TO MAKE IT

MOST NUMBER OF HEADS COLLECTED WHEN IT'S ALL OVER SHOULD DO THE TRICK. LOSER BUYS DINNER?

IN ADDITION TO THE UNFETTERED LICENSE TO KILL AND MAIM AGAIN. HAVE YOU MISSED \T AS MUCH AS T HAVE?

TROLL VERSUS GOBLIN. HOW SHALL WE SCORE IT?

= NO, THEY'RE ALL TOO WH/TE To BE BLACK PRIDE, OR LATINO PRIDE, OR ASIAN At IDE aC

THINK SO. MAYBE A DEMONSTRATION? _

THEY'RE ALL WELL-DRESSED. COULD THEY BE

GAY PRIDE?

I DOUBT IT. THEIR SUITS ARE WAY TOO CONSERVATIVE.

—_

AND THEY

NU HAVE ALL THOSE GUNS.

OH MY GOD! YOU'RE RIGHT!

IT FINALLY HAPPENED!

IT'S THE YOUNG ‘E38 REPUBLICANS! £9

THEY'RE MARCHING IN-- TAKING OVER NEW YORK!

JUST LIKE WHEN THEY MARCHED Ey ON PARIS IN LJ

IS THERE A DIFFERENCE?

ees —_ ~~“

WEREN'T

THOSE THE J NAZIS?

N THIS MEAN WE

GET GIULIANI BACK?

| a)

ff

<<

SS

=

NExt: THE BATTLE OF

[P| FABLETOWN! |@ |

\

a

“FABLES is an excellent series in the tradition of SANDMAN, one that rewards careful attention and loyalty.” - ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

BILL ‘= WILLINGHAM

“[A] wonderfully twisted concept...

features fairy tale characters banished to the noirish world of present-day New York.” -THE WASHINGTON POST

Fw or %

~ 4 VOL. I: LEGENDS IN EXILE VOL. 2: ANIMAL FARM

VOL. 3: STORYBOOK LOVE

VOL. 4: MARCH OF THE WOODEN SOLDIERS VOL. 5: THE MEAN SEASONS

VOL. 6: HOMELANDS

VOL. 7: ARABIAN NIGHTS (AND DAYS) VOL. 8: WOLVES

VOL. 9: SONS OF EMPIRE

VOL. 10: THE GOOD PRINCE

VOL. 11: WAR AND PIECES

VOL. 12: THE DARK AGES

VOL. 13: THE GREAT FABLES CROSSOVER 1001 NIGHTS OF SNOWFALL

FABLES VOL. 3: STORYBOOK LOVE

FABLES VOL. 6: FABLES: HOMELANDS 1001 NIGHTS OF SNOWFALL

WINNER OF TWO EISNER AWARDS »

X

RYBOOK LOVE

l r J Le nd —_——-